Nexus - 0103 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Orbit While all such first steps are laudable, the ‘ozone pact’ simply requires na- tions to freeze production of CFCs at their current massive levels tor years; these levels will then be halved by the late 1990s. Now that the consequences are known, continuing to jettison these ‘trace gases’ Into the atmosphere Is a criminal act equivalent to genocide. The chlorine in CFCs Is destroying the ozone layer - one kilo of chlorine In the stratosphere will destroy 10 tonnes of ozone. Australla produces around 13,000 tonnes of CFC 11 and CFC 12a year, but our Industries are voluntarily teducing use of CFCs by almost two- thirds. I en en has observed that the human genes re- sponsible for making melanin - the skin pigment which protects our lymphatic, orimmune system, from UV - can make people far darker than they need to be for today's levels of solar radiation. Pointing out that genes do not evolve unless they're needed, he theo- rises that in the past, natural phenom- ena (like comets) have depleted the ozone layer and Homo Sapiens has had to adapt to greater levels of UV than reach us at present. But for every 1% reduction in ozone over temperate Australla, UV radiation teaching the ground will Increase by 2%, resulting In a twelve -fold increase In melanoma and skin cancers. Malignant melanoma has in- creased in the US by 83% In the last seven years and Dr Darrel Rigel of the New York University Medical Centre, who released these figures, warned that sharp increases in UV mean that wearing sunscreens and staying In the shade will eventually become useless for avoiding skin cancer. Alternatives There are alternatives to many of the dangerous CFCs In production. CFC 22, for instance, does not damage the ozone layer. Recent advances in com- mercial and domestic refrigeration, including new helium-based coolants, can replace dangerous CFCs. Only those which are used on human skin (insect repellant and hairsprays) can- not be easily replaced. Governments must outlaw danger- ous CFCs completely; you and | must use no more CFC aerosol cans, polysty- tene wrapping or unnecessary refrig- eration. Unfortunately, only mad dogs and - RA. , We. L Chemical Genocide Cancer Cause Maverick British scientist Fred Hoyle Nexus New Times Three